The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC,
has said it has the information that Senator Ademola Adeleke, the governorship
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has pledged to return mission
schools to their owners if he becomes governor of Osun State.

The governorship election which
was held in Osun State on Saturday was declared inconclusive by the Independent
National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Thursday(tomorrow) has been fixed for
a re-run.

MURIC, in a press statement
signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said its office has been inundated with complaints from its members in
the state who fear a raw deal in the event of Senator Adeleke emerging winner
after the re-run.

MURIC said, “Our members are
apprehensive. There is this information that Senator Adeleke pledged to return
mission schools to their owners if he becomes governor of Osun. We don’t peddle
rumour. We are therefore using this medium to ascertain the veracity of the
report. The distinguished senator has ample time to issue a disclaimer now.

“The question is very simple, did
you promise to return mission schools to their owners? The implications are
very serious when considered against the background of the running battle over
the mission schools between the Christians and Muslims in the state in the past
eight years.

“To assure Nigerians that this is
not just a conjecture of MURIC or our concern alone, the Muslim Community of
Osun State had earlier raised the alarm on this matter. In a widely publicized
press conference of 8th September 2018, the president, Osun State Muslim
Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, said inter alia:

‘One of them has been using
‘return of schools to missionaries as one of his campaign promises. We are
aware that this is a gimmick to swindle the public. You can’t return the
property that belongs to all of us to a mission just because such schools bear
mission names. We are all aware of massive investments of public fund in these
schools after it had been taken over soon after independence with full
compensation. We have told him to forget it. Even if he has a pact with any
group, it won’t fly. Any politician that tries it will regret it.’

“As far as MURIC is concerned, we
see a big threat to religious freedom for Muslims if a candidate has entered
into a pact with Christians leaders to return schools to the missions. If
Adeleke has a pact with Christian leaders, what agreement does he have with the
Muslims? He may be taking Osun Muslims for a ride. He has to explain.

“He was only known as Senator
Ademola Adeleke prior to his emergence as candidate but suddenly he became
‘Nurudeen’. Our strong suspicion is that this ‘Nurudeen’ converted to
Christianity a long time ago but he now finds it mandatory to portray himself
as a Muslim in order to deceive gullible Muslims. He appeared on Id ground
during Salah. But that should not surprise anyone because even Fayose attended
Salah prayer wearing a turban. But why must politicians deceive Muslims this
way? We charge Senator Adeleke to elucidate on this.

“A second poser to which the
distinguished senator must respond before the re-run on Thursday is the
repression of Muslim students in Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State. MURIC has
petitions from Muslim students in the institution. They complain of religious
discrimination, forceful attendance of church services and refusal to allow
them to worship as Muslims.

“Our question to Senator Adeleke
on this is also very simple. Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria sir, what is your connection with Adeleke University? We are aware that
Dr. Deji Adeleke who happens to be the senator’s brother, is the Pro-Chancellor
of the institution.

“Given the passion with which
members of the Adeleke family have thrown their weight behind the senator’s
political ambition, can the distinguished senator separate his policies on
education as a prospective governor of Osun State from that of the university?
Are Muslims in the state not going to come under the sledge hammer just as
Muslim students are facing persecution in Adeleke University?”

MURIC also raised issues on the
hijab affair. “The road to freedom to use hijab in public schools was rough and
hard. We doubt if Muslims in the state will be ready to tolerate a reverse in
case an anti-Muslim governor emerges winner. The president of Osun State Muslim
Community expatiated on this:

‘Again, this is a backdoor
approach to banish hijab from public schools. We have seen hate and lack of
religious tolerance displayed in the Adeleke University Ede and the Bowen
University in Iwo. And as the majority group in Osun, we will not fold our
hands and allow that happen in our schools.

“It will be resisted with full
force. We just fought for hijab for three years, so anyone who intends to
mitigate our rights or oppress us should forget his ambition to become a
governor in this state. In Osun State, we are aware of our rights and we have
enlightened populace.’

“If it is true that a pledge was
made to return schools to the missionaries, then religion has been introduced
into the politics of Osun state. Therefore, nobody should tell MURIC not to
intervene in the politics of Osun state. This is not about supporting any
political party. Our members are spread across all the political parties but
our interest lies in the protection of the Allah-given fundamental rights of
Muslims.

“To round off, we implore the
distinguished senator to expatiate upon the issues raised above and allow the
Osun electorate to decide the rest.”

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The questions are why would a government forcefully take over mission schools? Muric claims that they are now collective assets of all, hmmm, may I ask muric where is truth, fairness and justice in the religion? Thirdly, what were the terms and conditions the students signed before entering Adeleke and Bowen Universities concerning religion? Were they not told that church services in mandatory for every body? Why did they decline and go to another University at that moment but signed terms and conditions and now cimplain

Am mr lanre from oyo state i wantto tell you people of osun not to allow any religiousleader convince you of your decision.it is the time for any leader to be talking about what Adeleke promises to do when he becomes the governor as regards returning mission schools to the owner which is not even true at all.No governor can do that all it can never be possible.so,dont allow any so-called leader to discourage you some of them are agent of Apc.Dont forget though times and hell you passed through during Aregbesola regim.On the issue of Adeleke u iversity not allowed muSlim students to perform their religious wishes,any private owner can decide rules and regulations as they like and any interested student can apply they are not forced to go to any be it christian university the student choose to apply so students are to comply to lay down rules or else they leave.We have Alikmah university in Ilorin owned by muslim any christian admitted is bouned to obey the rules and regulations of the school or leaves if he or she can't .So,school forces any studentto apply ,they choose their choose theinstitution oftheir choice.But as regards returning mission secondary primary and secondary schools to mission no governor can try it,itis impossible.so,let us allow peacein our state.